E. Bryan Coughlin

Degree Information:
B.A. Chemistry, Grinnell College 1988
Ph.D. Chemistry, California Institute of Technology, 1993

Mailing Address:
Department of Polymer Science and Engineering
Room A612, Conte Research Center
University of Massachusetts Amherst
120 Governors Drive
Amherst, MA 01003

Phone: 413-577-1616

Email: coughlin@mail.pse.umass.edu

Fax: 413-545-0082

Research Interests:
Tailoring Chemical Functionality into Functional Polymeric Materials

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Current Research:
"Novel Inorganic-Organic Hybrid Copolymers" Under sponsorship from NSF CAREER Award, The Department of Energy, the United State Army, Air Force, and most recently the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, we are developing synthetic strategies that exploit self-assembly processes for generating ordered inorganic domains on the nanometer length scale within polymer matrices.

"Precision Functionalized Polymers" Under sponsorship from the Department of Energy, NASA, and DuPont, ion conducting polymers are being prepared and their performance is be evaluated for use in Li ion battery and fuel cell applications. We are also exploring stimuli responsive materials.

"Polymerization Catalysis and Reaction Engineering" Under Sponsorship from NSF, the United States Navy, Honeywell Inc., and Reliance Industries Ltd., we are actively exploring the development of novel organo-transition metal based olefin polymerization catalysts using state-of-the-art polymerization facilities, and a novel reactor design for performing high through-put screening of catalysts performance.

"Fire-Safe Polymers and Polymer Composites" Under sponsorship from the FAA, Boeing, and several industrial partners, advanced materials are being developed with the goal being to eliminate burning cabin material as a cause of death in aircraft accidents. In fiscal year 2005 this research effort was expanded to incorporate an award from the United States Department of Homeland Security to develop "Next Generation Structural Fire Fighting Personnel Protective Equipment with Chemical/Biological Protection," under a subcontract from the International Association of Fire Fighters.

Honors and Distinctions:

NSF CAREER AWARD (2003-2007)
DuPont Young Faculty Award (2003-2005)
UMass Distinguished Teaching Award Nominee (2003-2004)
3M Non-Tenured Faculty Awards (2000, 2001, 2002)
Mettler-Toledo Edith M. Turri Thermal Analysis Grant (2002)
OMNOVA Solutions Signature University Faculty Award (2000)
UMass Polymer Science and Engineering Dept. Most Outstanding Professor Award (2000)
California Catalysis Society Graduate Student Award (1992)
W.R. Grace Graduate Fellowship (1990)
American Institute of Chemists Outstanding Senior Chemistry Major Award (1988)